Chelsea 1 - Pompey 0

Chelsea 1-0 Pompey

Pompey were the guests to Stamford Bridge this afternoon as we looked to finally break our pointless run against Chelsea. In 8 previous Premiership matches we had lost them all, only ever scoring one goal.

I went into the goal full of optimism that we could pull it off - and we only just failed not to win, let alone draw!

Sol Campbell and Lauren returned from injury, although Pedro Mendes missed out. Noe Pamarot was fit to take up a place on the bench, but Sulley Muntari also returned from suspension as Harry Redknapp went for a 4-4-2 formation, but with John Utaka not quite deployed as an out and out attacker. The men that dropped out were Djimi Traore, Richard Hughes and Benjani.

The fact that Pompey had more of the possession says it all, but as Chelsea took the chance that came their way through Frank Lampard it saw them scrape a 1-0 win.

The MatchChelsea started brightly and an early chance saw Claudio Pizarro get a clear chance but he shot wide. Then, as you would expect they had slightly more of the play but did not have another real chance until about 15 minutes when Pizarro again got in the end of a chance, getting ahead of Sylvain Distin, but he could only to head over.

Matty Taylor almost broke away from Sulley Muntari's through ball, with Taylor making a fine run, but the ball was just too heavy - it was an encouraging sign though that they were vulnerable.

Pompey again threatened with a quick one two between Lauren and Gary O'Neil, with John Utaka pulling the ball back but no one could get on the end of it, but yet there was more encouragement that Chelsea were worried, particularly down their right hand side.

Chelsea may have been favourites but Pompey were controlling the half after the early position from Chelsea looking more threatening with us inches away from taking the lead. Great work from Kanu created an opening for Taylor but his shot was deflected just wide with Petr Cech struggling. From the resulting corner Muntari drove a shot that was comfortable for Cech, but that was not the end of it as seconds later with Taylor crying out for the ball Muntari opted to shot again.

Against the run of play with 30 minutes played Chelsea took the lead. Frank Lampard's run from midfield saw him free and his shot from the edge of the area beat David James who may feel disappointed that he was beaten by the effort, although it did move in front of him.

Another questionable decision from referee Alan Wiley, one of many, not to award Pompey a free kick for a foul on Utaka - eventually he did - saw John Terry escape a yellow card. Utaka was threatening though, with it still more than believed that we could come back into the match.

On the stroke of half time Taylor again was inches away as he had Cech beaten, but unfortunately he also beat the bar - just!

Harry Redknapp, quite rightly decided against any changes at half time as we had done enough in the 1st half, with us unlucky to be behind, but an instant chance for Shawn Wright Phillips could only see him shoot wide.

Had Pompey's chance come and gone? In the opening 10 minutes of the 2nd half more good work from Kanu saw him pull the ball back to Sean Davis but from 12 yards he was unable to hit the target as he shot over.

A crunching challenge between Michael Essien and Muntari saw the Pompey man get the better of things and we then broke away, with O'Neil getting a shot away from outside of the area that was again just wide.

With 60 minutes gone Redknapp made his first change as and attacking move saw Benjani come on for O'Neil.

After Florent Malouda sent an venomous effort just wide, Kanu's clever ball in gave Benjani a chance but he could not quite work a good enough angle and could then only shot wide, then James had to be alert to parry and effort from Essien.

Pompey were giving it everything and half chances can and went with Essien and Joe Cole coming close, although Pompey were still not out of the game at all and Benjani and Muntari had half chances before the final throw of the dice was made with 8 minutes to play as David Nugent and Noe Pamarot came on for Matty Taylor and Lauren.

After a scramble in the area, with 3 minutes to go Pompey were denied the equaliser firstly as Nugent's goal bound shot hit Benjani then as the ball rebounded back Ashley Cole cleared Hermann Hreidarsson's header off the line. Although we kept pushing we could not make the break through and Chelsea just held on.

Match SummaryYep, we lost but we were not disgraced - far from it and I was delighted that Harry Redknapp went for 4-4-2 today and really had a go, this again proves that we can take on the best home and away.

We had a really, really good go at them and fully deserved to have come away with at least a point but Chelsea win because they take the chances, whereas although we had plenty of opportunities we could not create enough clear cut efforts to threaten.

However Matty Taylor went unbelievable close a couple of times with a few more fine runs from midfield not quite spotted, which if they had he could have been in.

Individually and collectively we were fantastic today and on another day, with some luck we would have won let alone drawn this game.

The record books will show a defeat, but we will know we were fantastic today and my money will definitely be on us to finally break the Premiership duck points wise when we met them at Fratton later in the season.

i think the shots were even, altho chelsea had more on target. however our efforts that did miss the target only just missed, matty taylor twice for example... you certainly did say that mate - the luck deserted us today, but we have proved against one of the best in europe - even tho they might not have had one of their better days, but how much of that was down to us! - that we can give them a game...

Sorry for the cock up on the statistics front got them from another and unrealiable site. Nevertheless to go to Chelsea and boss possession and have 18 efforts on goal shows we are moving in the right direction quickly. Top six finish methinks.

I think we have turned the corner now, where we are able to compete on an even keel with these top 4 teams, we now need to push on and turn the next corner where we score more than them! well, e'dave, would love to see a top 6 finish, will have to wait and see.

chelski might not have had a great day, but i - as i would think the rest of us, hopefully some chelski fans too? - like to give us credit. how much was it to do with us not allowing them to play well? the media clearly wont see it that way, but they never do where the giants are concerned do they... im up for a top 6 or 7 finish so long as we keep putting in performances like this away from the fortress, as if we do we will win more than we lose. this should be a marker for us to aim for against every other team away.

Allright lads? , Just got back, feckin hell, keep playing like this and weŽll see you in the CL, not surprised you managed to hold/shut down Manure, looks like Uncle Arry has his ****e together for this season. And cheers for letting us continue the "unbeaten at home record" 65 and counting. Ave a good un, IŽm off to the Pub.

At last we gave it a go, not such a long jouney home when we play like we did today.
Just one complaint though, Gary and Sean in particular must take those type of chances when we get them, but i dont think we thought that they were going to take the opportunity when it arrived did we?
Rumours were abounding in London that Jermaine is on his way out of Spurs !!

agree p4me if a chelski fan can give us such a glowing endorsement - as they should know quality when they see it - we cant be bad can we! certainy agree with you owens - good to see you back again by the way, we have not seen much of you the past week or so - to be the complete article o'neil and davis need to contribute with more goal. they help out so much in other ways, but goals will complete them.

hey guys, without wanting to poo on the parade (so to speak) we have conceeded in all prem matches so far. so as well as having some quite wonderful attacking options and a bulstered midfield we cant seem to shut out the goals. but at least we are playing attractive football as such... boring boltonesque and chelskiesque 1-0s would bore us all. interesting that blue is the colour thinks we will make CL; i think its a bit too much to ask just yet. lets not judge and predict after 4 games! chelski are on a role, liverpool are playing well, so to are arsenal, everton are going along smoothly and man u wont be where they are all season! mind u, weve pld v well this season 5 points from 4 games having pld effective 1st and 2nd place teams. still would have preferred the 3 points against derby but cant have everything. one thing I am impressed with is our black friends; muntari and utaka especially. amazing purchases... lets hope we can keep hold of them! as for defoe.... wont he upset our balance up front? do we REALLY need him? and can we REALLY afford him!? just looked at the pfcTV goals of the season.... taylor, mendez and kanu feature heavily!! back to the match, i havnt seen it yet (heard it on the radio) but it sounds like we played a good game, now i wish mourinho would stop BLOODY MOANING about internationals making his team not 100% .... whatever mate; chelsea are a bit pathetic with their whinging... at least man u do their talking with a football!

CL eh! dare we think about it? On a different tact not surprising Steve McLaren was there yesterday you could almost name an England side from the two squads - James; Johnson(I know), Campbell, Terry, A Cole; GON, F Lampard, J Cole, Taylor; Nugent just one more striker needed. Good side especially as it has none of the under acheiving Manure stars.

tbh i was abit disappointed with the selection pfctv offered up for goals of the season last season - when it had kanu v boro i thought it would be his half the length of the field run but it was the 'tap in' from the 1st half... dont get me wrong there were some superb goals, but some were hardly 'goals of the season' were they...

regarding the england theme eastneydave i reckon that spineless steve would have been very impressed with all of the englishmen on display yesterday - maybe i am being slightly biased but i would say that the englismen for pompey outshone the englishmen from chelski - you forgot to mention davis tho, who has started the season brilliantly... if sol carries on playing like he did yesterday, if spineless watches him some more i reckon there is a great chance he might pair him with terry, as i think it is about time rio sat out a couple of games to keep his over inflated ego intact... i dont think sol and terry have played together for england have they - if so not very often?

Merlin we need to convert the few chances we get away from home, we gave you a game this time, now hopefully we will go to the Emirates and give them a game like we did last year.
Hope the season goes well for you, and could we borrow Makelele, Essien and Schevshenko off you to the end of the season.

OwensPompey...Sorry fella, Maka and SEN are kinda busy right now, but you can have Sheva for a couple of weeks if you want...just so that you can show him where the ***** the goal is, when youŽve taught him that, we expect him back, ok? :)

Its a deal mate, he is and always will be a quality player, we would be happy for a season long loan, and if you cant spare Claude and Michael we will settle for Diarra and Mikel, we are not greedy at Fratton.
Good luck to you

agree mate, i am bnot doubting that they can play together - it was more a thinking {or typing} aloud question on the subject if they had. i am convinced that they could play together, i hope they do too as rio is getting on my... well you know what! if davis can maintain his form, if spineless watches more games then he prob wont escape his attention - not that i doubt he will get a look in tho.

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